Pakistan are considering whether to switch a home series to New Zealand after the Kiwis refused to tour the troubled country, a cricket official said on Sunday.

Pakistan are considering whether to switch a home series to New Zealand after the Kiwis refused to tour the troubled country, a cricket official said on Sunday.

New Zealand were scheduled to tour Pakistan in November-December for a three-Test and five-match one-day series but had hinted they will not tour following attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last month.

The brazen attacks, which left seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured besides killing eight policemen, put paid to Pakistan’s chances of hosting international cricket for the foreseeable future.

The International Cricket Council on Friday stripped Pakistan of its share of matches in the 2011 World Cup, citing the “uncertain security situation” in the country.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt said he held detailed meetings with New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan here and was considering their offer to switch the series to New Zealand. “We have discussed the series but have yet to reach a final decision on it,” Butt told AFP. “At the moment New Zealand are averse to touring Pakistan. So among the options available, the best is to play in New Zealand.”